Bill Details
HR.2437 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-03-27 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Introduced Date
2025-03-27
Policy Area
Health
Committees
View committees (1)
Sponsors
8
0
0
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would require hospitals to give certain Medicare patients information about hospice programs when they leave the hospital if they may be eligible for hospice care. It also updates existing discharge rules so hospitals must include information about home health services and post-hospital care in a clearer way. The goal is to make sure patients and families know what support is available after a hospital stay, especially for people who may need end-of-life care at home or in a hospice program.
- Hospitals would have to tell eligible patients about hospice programs that take part in Medicare and serve the patient’s area.
- The bill also makes hospitals provide information about home health services for patients likely to need care at home after discharge.
- It keeps the requirement that hospitals share information about other post-hospital care options for patients who may need extended care.
- The new rules would apply to hospital discharges on or after January 1, 2026.
Official Summaries
No summaries available
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2437 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2437
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require hospitals to
provide information on available hospice programs to certain
individuals upon discharge under the Medicare program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 27, 2025
Mrs. Houchin introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require hospitals to
provide information on available hospice programs to certain
individuals upon discharge under the Medicare program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``End-of-life Access to Supportive and
Essential care Act of 2025'' or the ``EASE Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. REQUIRING HOSPITALS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE HOSPICE
PROGRAMS TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS UPON DISCHARGE UNDER THE
MEDICARE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 1861(ee)(2)(D) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1395x(ee)(2)(D)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``, home health services,'' after
``including hospice care'';
(2) by striking ``including the availability of home health
services through individuals and entities'' and inserting the
following: ``including--
``(i) in the case of individuals who are likely to
need home health services, the availability of such
services through home health agencies'';
(3) by striking ``listed by the hospital as available and,
in the case of individuals who are likely to need post-hospital
extended care services,'' and inserting the following: ``listed
by the hospital as available;
``(ii) in the case of individuals who are likely to
need post-hospital extended care services,'';
(4) by striking the period and inserting ``; and''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(iii) in the case of individuals who are likely
eligible for hospice care, the availability of such
care through hospice programs that participate in the
program under this title and that serve the area in
which the patient resides.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall
apply with respect to discharges occurring on or after January 1, 2026.
<all>